Abstract: An operation device includes a movable portion, a vibration generating unit, a fixed portion, a detecting unit, and a control unit. The vibration generating unit includes a movable yoke attached to the movable portion, and a fixed yoke attached to the fixed portion and disposed facing the movable yoke in a first direction. The vibration generating unit includes a permanent magnet attached to one yoke among the movable yoke and the fixed yoke, both ends of the permanent magnet in the first direction being opposite magnetic poles created by magnetization. The vibration generating unit includes an exciting coil attached to a different yoke from the one yoke among the movable yoke and the fixed yoke, the exciting coil being configured to induce magnetic flux in response to a current flowing through the exciting coil.

Abstract: An input device includes an operation member, an actuator configured to impart a tactile effect to the operation member, and a controller configured to apply, to the actuator, a control signal for starting to apply a first vibration to the operation member at a first timing and for starting to apply a second vibration to the operation member at a second timing after the first timing, such that a combined vibration of the first vibration and the second vibration is applied to the operation member. The controller is configured to change a duration of a first period of the combined vibration to two or more different durations of the first period by changing a control period of time that extends from the first timing to the second timing to two or more different control periods of time.

Abstract: An input device includes an operation panel member having a touch-sensitive surface and configured to detect coordinates of a touched position, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a third sensor each disposed on a reference plane spaced from the operation panel member and configured to detect respective distances to the operation panel member, and a signal processing unit configured to process signals, wherein the operation panel member inclines relative to the reference plane in response to load applied to the touched position, and wherein the signal processing unit is configured to calculate a displacement of the operation panel member occurring upon a touch operation at the touched position based on coordinates of the touched position detected by the operation panel member and the respective distances detected by the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor.

Abstract: A rotary operating device includes an operation part that is rotatable according to an operation by an operator, a rotation angle sensor that detects a rotation angle of the operation part, a torque applier that applies application torque to the operation part along a rotation direction of the operation part, a frictional force applier that applies a frictional force to the operation part, and a processor programmed to change the application torque and the frictional force according to the rotation angle.

Abstract: Braking torque based on a friction force is increased in a pulse state in a transition area in which control torque changes from a direction to encourage the rotation of a manipulation member to a direction to suppress the rotation. This braking torque based on a friction force does not cause vibration unlike the driving torque of an electric motor even if the braking torque is steeply increased. Therefore, when the rotational angle passes through the transition area, a clearer click feeling can be generated without a change like vibration being caused in control torque. When the manipulation member is rotated fast, the braking torque in a pulse state is likely to be felt as vibration.

Abstract: A control signal is corrected according to the time-varying change of the detection value of a rotational angle, detected in a rotational angle sensor, of a manipulation member so that correction torque that makes the apparent inertia moment of the manipulation member different from intrinsic inertia moment is added to control torque. When the apparent inertia moment of the manipulation member is made different from intrinsic inertia moment, this apparent inertia moment can be made to adapt to the appearance of the texture of the manipulation member. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently reduce inconsistency in manipulation feeling due to the difference between the appearance of the texture of the manipulation member and a load felt in an actual manipulation.

Abstract: An input device includes a first part and a second part configured to move relative to each other according to an input operation, a magnetic viscous fluid whose viscosity changes according to a magnetic field, and a magnetic-field generator that generates the magnetic field applied to the magnetic viscous fluid. The second part includes a first surface and a second surface that are arranged in a direction orthogonal to a direction of relative movement between the first part and the second part. Gaps are formed between the first surface and the first part and between the second surface and the first part, and the magnetic viscous fluid is present in at least a part of the gaps.

Abstract: An input device includes a first part and a second part configured to move relative to each other according to an input operation, a magnetic viscous fluid whose viscosity changes according to a magnetic field, and a magnetic-field generator that generates the magnetic field applied to the magnetic viscous fluid. The second part includes a first surface and a second surface that are arranged in a direction orthogonal to a direction of relative movement between the first part and the second part. Gaps are formed between the first surface and the first part and between the second surface and the first part, and the magnetic viscous fluid is present in at least a part of the gaps.

Abstract: An input device includes a first part and a second part configured to move relative to each other according to an input operation, a magnetic viscous fluid whose viscosity changes according to a magnetic field, and a magnetic-field generator that generates the magnetic field applied to the magnetic viscous fluid. The second part includes a first surface and a second surface that are arranged in a direction orthogonal to a direction of relative movement between the first part and the second part. Gaps are formed between the first surface and the first part and between the second surface and the first part, and the magnetic viscous fluid is present in at least a part of the gaps.

Abstract: In an operation device, when an operation body is pressed, a tilt of the operation body is detected from detection outputs of proximity sensors, and a pressed position of the operation body is detected by a touch sensor. A controller varies a threshold value according to the tilt of the operation body and the pressed position, and recognizes the pressing operation when a pressing distance of the operation body detected by the proximity sensors exceeds the threshold value.

Abstract: An input apparatus includes an operation member supported movably in accordance with a plurality of sections set on a two-dimensional plane, a section detection section configured to detect a section in which the operation member is located, a determination operation detection section configured to detect a determination operation performed using the operation member, and an execution section configured to perform a process corresponding to the section in which the operation member is located on the basis of the section detected by the section detection section and the determination operation detected by the determination operation detection section. The determination operation is movement of the operation member in a determination direction (y1 direction), which is a direction parallel to the two-dimensional plane.

Abstract: Braking torque based on a friction force is increased in a pulse state in a transition area in which control torque changes from a direction to encourage the rotation of a manipulation member to a direction to suppress the rotation. This braking torque based on a friction force does not cause vibration unlike the driving torque of an electric motor even if the braking torque is steeply increased. Therefore, when the rotational angle passes through the transition area, a clearer click feeling can be generated without a change like vibration being caused in control torque. When the manipulation member is rotated fast, the braking torque in a pulse state is likely to be felt as vibration.

Abstract: A control signal is corrected according to the time-varying change of the detection value of a rotational angle, detected in a rotational angle sensor, of a manipulation member so that correction torque that makes the apparent inertia moment of the manipulation member different from intrinsic inertia moment is added to control torque. When the apparent inertia moment of the manipulation member is made different from intrinsic inertia moment, this apparent inertia moment can be made to adapt to the appearance of the texture of the manipulation member. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently reduce inconsistency in manipulation feeling due to the difference between the appearance of the texture of the manipulation member and a load felt in an actual manipulation.

Abstract: A manipulation feeling imparting input device has: a flat-type input, having a manipulation surface manipulated by a specific body region such as a user's fingertip, that outputs input information made by a manipulation performed on the manipulation surface; a support member that supports the input unit so as to be able to reciprocate in a pressing direction in response to a pressing manipulation performed on the input unit; and a vibration generating unit, connected to the input unit, that imparts vibration. The vibration generating unit has a vibration generating member having a movable part operable in a vibration direction; a vibration transmitting member connected to the movable part; and a base body that holds the vibration generating member. Vibration is imparted to the input unit when it is manipulated. The pressing direction of the pressing manipulation and the vibration direction in which vibration is imparted cross each other.

Abstract: A rotary operating device includes an operation part that is rotatable according to an operation by an operator, a rotation angle sensor that detects a rotation angle of the operation part, a torque applier that applies application torque to the operation part along a rotation direction of the operation part, a frictional force applier that applies a frictional force to the operation part, and a processor programmed to change the application torque and the frictional force according to the rotation angle.

Abstract: A manipulation input device has a first detector and a second detector, disposed at different positions on a manipulative member, that detect the displacement of the manipulative member, the displacement being caused when the manipulative member receives a manipulation force, and also has a processor that performs processing to identify a position at which the manipulative member has received the manipulation force according to detection results obtained from the first detector and second detector and to the positions of the first detector and second detector on the manipulative member.

Abstract: A vibration generating device has a vibration generating member that causes vibration in a vibration direction, a vibration transmitting member, and a base body. The vibration generating member has a first yoke and a second yoke spaced in the vibration direction so as to face each other, a coil that generates magnetism, and a support body that supports the first yoke. A first gap is formed between the first vibration-side opposite surface of the first yoke and the second vibration-side opposite surface of the second yoke; these surfaces face each other in the vibration direction. A second gap is formed between the first orthogonal-side opposite surface of the first yoke and the second orthogonal-side opposite surface of the second yoke; these surfaces face each other in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the vibration direction. The first gap is narrower than the second gap.

Abstract: In an operation device, when an operation body is pressed, a tilt of the operation body is detected from detection outputs of proximity sensors, and a pressed position of the operation body is detected by a touch sensor. A controller varies a threshold value according to the tilt of the operation body and the pressed position, and recognizes the pressing operation when a pressing distance of the operation body detected by the proximity sensors exceeds the threshold value.

Abstract: Electrode portions located on both ends are set to detection electrode portions, ground electrode portions are set on the inside thereof, and a plurality of central electrode portions are set to driving detection portions. A coordinate position of a finger can be obtained based on an output difference between the detection electrode portions, and a vertical distance can be obtained based on an output sum. When the vertical distance of the finger is shorter than a first threshold, switching is performed so that an interval between the detection electrode portions is shortened, and when the finger approaches, a touch detection mode is set.

Abstract: A vibration generating device has a vibration generating member that causes vibration in a vibration direction, a vibration transmitting member, and a base body. The vibration generating member has a first yoke and a second yoke spaced in the vibration direction so as to face each other, a coil that generates magnetism, and a support body that supports the first yoke. A first gap is formed between the first vibration-side opposite surface of the first yoke and the second vibration-side opposite surface of the second yoke; these surfaces face each other in the vibration direction. A second gap is formed between the first orthogonal-side opposite surface of the first yoke and the second orthogonal-side opposite surface of the second yoke; these surfaces face each other in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the vibration direction. The first gap is narrower than the second gap.